BIG GATE DATE!
History will be created on Friday when the town’s historic Gate will be closed to traffic.
WHILE the closure of Laurence’s Gate has been welcomed by all those keen to see the preservation of one of Drogheda’s most important historical monument, the residents of Francis Street are concerned about the new traffic plan will affect them.
Matthew Clarke, who lives directly opposite Jim Garry Way, said he is concerned about how larger vehicles will be able to get around the corner onto the new road once the direction of the traffic flow changes.
‘I’m very worried the lorries are going to be coming very close to my house when they are coming up Francis Street to get around the corner onto Jim Garry Way,’ said Matthew. ‘ That road is very narrow and it’s already very tight when they are coming across from Palace Street and turning down Francis Street but it’s going to be much tighter when they are trying to turn into it the other way.
‘I already know what’s going to happen, if anything big comes up the street it’s not going to be able to get round without going up on the footpath. It’s going to be a catastrophe. That road is too narrow for the size of some of the traffic that will be trying to get across it.’
Matthew went on to say that he remembered the Gate being closed over 20 years ago to see if it was viable but said the closure only lasted three week because of the traffic chaos it caused.
‘When trucks and vans are coming up Francis Street they’ll be over this side more. I’m very worried about what’s going to happen. Already these houses are shaking from the weight of the traffic passing by. If you’re out in the back kitchen and there’s anything big coming down you can feel it.’
Matthew said he attended the first meeting about the closure of the Gates and raised the concerns of local residents at this.
‘It’s okay for the committee, they can walk away once this happens but we have to live with the consequences,’ he said. ‘ This road has one of the heaviest volumes of traffi in the area as it is. It just can’t take anymore. I asked the council for bollards to be put there on the footpath and they told me it was too narrow. they said if a woman was coming with a buggy she wouldn’t be able to get by. So they basicalliy said no they wouldn’t do that.’
Matthew said he is dreading the traffic flow changes and what it will mean for him and his neighbours.
‘I’ve lived here all my life, I was born in the house next door but the way things are at the moment I might just have to leave,’ said Matthew.
‘I thought coming to my age I’d be getting a bit of peace.’